Paint masking for corners employing “L-shaped” masking employing only single hand application

Abstract

A paint mask particularly adapted for masking corner areas of a demarcation zone to facilitate painting of an area of a workpiece disposed on the other side of the demarcation zone is formed of a thin, flexible sheet having opposite faces. The paint mask includes a first leg and a second leg that are generally rectangular in shape, and the legs intersect to form a right angle adapted for masking a corner and adjacent area. The bottom side of the paint mask which contacts the surface to be masked includes an adhesive for adhering the mask to the workpiece. The top side has release means for releasing stacked paint masks from each other.

1. A method of masking a plurality of corners in a window frame, comprising:
 providing a plurality of sheets, each sheet of said plurality of sheets having opposite bottom and top faces and at least a first and a second outer edge, said at least first and second outer edges intersecting at an angle of 90°, said sheet includes an inner edge, said sheet includes an adhesive on said bottom face extending in a band only along said first and second outer edges, wherein said plurality of sheets are stacked upon one another to form a paint mask pad; 
 applying one said sheet to each corner of a window pane in the window frame wherein each said sheet is separate and apart from other said sheets; 
 applying masking tape from a first said sheet inner edge to at least a second said sheet inner edge along an edge of the window frame; 
 each said sheet includes a non-adhesive area on said bottom face wherein said non-adhesive area extends continuously from said adhesive to and continuously along said inner edge; and, 
 said applying of each of said sheet includes grasping with only one hand said non-adhesive area of said sheet between a user's thumb on one side of said sheet and a finger on an opposing side of said sheet, removing with only one hand each said sheet from said pad, and installing with only one hand each said sheet to each corner of the window pane. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of masking according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 applying masking tape from said first said sheet inner edge to a third said sheet inner edge along another edge of the window frame. 
 
     
     
       3. A method of masking a plurality of corners in a window frame, comprising:
 providing a plurality of sheets, each sheet of said plurality of sheets having opposite bottom and top faces and at least a first and a second outer edge, said at least first and second outer edges intersecting at an angle of 90°, said sheet includes an inner edge, said sheet includes an adhesive on said bottom face extending from said first and second outer edges toward said inner edge; 
 applying one said sheet to each corner of a window pane in the window frame; 
 applying masking tape from a first said sheet inner edge to at least a second said sheet inner edge along an edge of the window frame; 
 said sheet being L-shaped and having first and second legs that are generally rectangular in shape and at right angles to one another; 
 said sheet includes a non-adhesive area on said bottom face; 
 wherein said non-adhesive area extends continuously from said adhesive to and continuously along said inner edge; 
 said applying of each of said sheet includes grasping with only one hand said non-adhesive area of said sheet between a user's thumb on one side of said sheet and a finger on an opposing side of said sheet and installing with only one hand each said sheet to each corner of the window pane; and, 
 removing each said sheet, after completing a painting operation, by grasping with only one hand said non-adhesive area of said sheet between the user's thumb on one side of said sheet and a finger on an opposing side of said sheet and pulling single-handedly each said sheet from each corner of the window pane. 
 
     
     
       4. A method of masking a plurality of corners in a window frame, comprising:
 providing a plurality of sheets, each sheet of said plurality of sheets having opposite bottom and top faces and at least a first and a second outer edge, said at least first and second outer edges intersecting at an angle of 90°, said sheet includes an inner edge, said sheet includes an adhesive on said bottom face extending from said first and second outer edges toward said inner edge; 
 applying one said sheet to each corner of a window pane in the window frame; 
 applying masking tape from a first said sheet inner edge to at least a second said sheet inner edge along an edge of the window frame; 
 wherein said sheet being L-shaped and having first and second legs that are generally rectangular in shape and at right angles to one another; 
 said sheet includes a non-adhesive area on said bottom face, wherein said non-adhesive area extends continuously from said adhesive to and continuously along said inner edge; and, 
 said applying of each of said sheet includes grasping with only one hand said non-adhesive area of said sheet between a user's thumb on one side of said sheet and a finger on an opposing side of said sheet and installing with only one hand each said sheet to each corner of the window pane. 
 
     
     
       5. A method of masking a plurality of corners in a window frame, comprising:
 providing a plurality of sheets, each sheet of said plurality of sheets having opposite bottom and top faces and at least a first and a second outer edge, said at least first and second outer edges intersecting at an angle of 90°, said sheet includes an inner edge, said sheet includes an adhesive on said bottom face extending in a band only along said first and second outer edges, wherein said plurality of sheets are stacked upon one another to form a paint mask pad; 
 applying with only one hand one said sheet to each corner of a window pane defining a line of demarcation between said first and second outer edges and the window frame and adjusting with only one hand said sheet to account for irregular edges along said line of demarcation wherein each said sheet is separate and apart from other said sheets; 
 applying masking tape from a first said sheet inner edge to at least a second said sheet inner edge along at least one edge of the window frame; 
 each said sheet includes a non-adhesive area on said bottom face wherein said non-adhesive area extends continuously from said adhesive to and continuously along said inner edge; and, 
 said applying of each of said sheet includes grasping with only one hand said non-adhesive area of said sheet between a user's thumb on one side of said sheet and a finger on an opposing side of said sheet, removing with only one hand each said sheet from said pad, and installing with only one hand each said sheet to each corner of the window pane. 
 
     
     
       6. A method of masking a plurality of corners in a window frame, comprising:
 providing a plurality of sheets, each sheet of said plurality of sheets having opposite bottom and top faces and at least a first and a second outer edge, said at least first and second outer edges intersecting at an angle of 90°, said sheet includes an inner edge, said sheet includes an adhesive area on said bottom face extending from said first and second outer edges toward said inner edge; 
 said sheet being L-shaped and having first and second legs that are generally rectangular in shape and at right angles to one another; 
 grasping opposing sides of one said sheet with only one hand between a user's thumb and finger; 
 installing with only one hand one said sheet to each corner of a window pane in the window frame; 
 wherein said sheet includes a non-adhesive area extending continuously from said adhesive area to and continuously along said inner edge; and, 
 wherein said installing said sheet further includes holding with only one hand one said sheet in said non-adhesive area between a user's thumb on one side of said sheet and a finger on an opposing side of said sheet and positioning with only one hand each said sheet into each corner of the window pane. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of masking according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 applying masking tape from one said sheet inner edge to another said sheet inner edge along an edge of the window frame. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of masking according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 removing said sheets from the corners wherein said removing includes grasping opposing sides of said sheets with only one hand and pulling said sheets from the window pane. 
 
     
     
       9. A method of masking a plurality of corners in a window frame, comprising:
 providing a plurality of sheets, each sheet of said plurality of sheets having opposite bottom and top faces and at least a first and a second outer edge, said at least first and second outer edges intersecting at an angle of 90°, said sheet includes an inner edge, said sheet includes an adhesive area on said bottom face extending from said first and second outer edges toward said inner edge; 
 grasping opposing sides of one said sheet from a package of said plurality of sheets with only one hand between a user's thumb and finger; 
 installing with only one hand one said sheet to each corner of a window pane in the window frame; 
 wherein said sheet being L-shaped and having first and second legs that are generally rectangular in shape and at right angles to one another; and, 
 said installing of each said sheet includes positioning of said sheet with only one hand into the corner of the window pane and releasing said sheet from said grasp without disturbing said positioning. 
 
     
     
       10. A method of masking a plurality of corners in a window frame, comprising:
 providing a plurality of sheets, each sheet of said plurality of sheets having opposite bottom and top faces and at least a first and a second outer edge, said at least first and second outer edges intersecting at an angle of 90°, said sheet includes an inner edge, said sheet includes an adhesive on said bottom face extending in a band only along said first and second outer edges, wherein said plurality of sheets are nestled together to form a paint mask package; 
 grasping opposing sides of one said sheet with only one hand between a user's thumb and finger; 
 installing with only one hand one said sheet to each corner of a window pane defining a line of demarcation in the window frame and adjusting with only one hand said sheet to account for irregular edges along said line of demarcation wherein each said sheet is separate and apart from other said sheets; 
 each said sheet includes a non-adhesive area on said bottom face wherein said non-adhesive area extends continuously from said adhesive to and continuously along said inner edge; and, 
 said applying of each of said sheet consists of single-handed said grasping of said non-adhesive area of said sheet, single-handed removing each said sheet from said package, and single-handed installing each said sheet to each corner of the window pane. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of masking according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 applying masking tape from a first said sheet inner edge to at least a second said sheet inner edge along at least one edge of the window frame. 
 
     
     
       12. A method of masking a plurality of corners in a window frame, comprising:
 providing a plurality of sheets, each sheet of said plurality of sheets having opposite bottom and top faces and at least a first and a second outer edge, said at least first and second outer edges intersecting at an angle of 90°, said sheet includes an inner edge, said sheet includes an adhesive on said bottom face extending from said first and second outer edges toward said inner edge; 
 said sheet being L-shaped and having first and second legs that are generally rectangular in shape and at right angles to one another; 
 grasping opposing sides of one said sheet with only one hand between a user's thumb and finger; 
 installing with only one hand one said sheet to each corner of a window pane defining a line of demarcation in the window frame and adjusting with only one hand said sheet to account for irregular edges along said line of demarcation; 
 wherein said sheet includes a non-adhesive area extending continuously from said adhesive area to and continuously along said inner edge; and, 
 said grasping said sheet consists of holding with one hand one said sheet in said non-adhesive area between a user's thumb on one side of said sheet and a finger on an opposing side of said sheet for single-handed said installing of each said sheet to each corner of the window pane and single-handed removal of each said sheet from each corner of the window pane. 
 
     
     
       13. A method for masking an area adjacent workpieces to be painted, said workpieces providing at least two opposite right angle corners therebetween, comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of thin, flexible sheets each having opposite bottom and top and a first and a second outer edge intersecting at 90 degrees, each said sheet includes an inner edge and an adhesive on said bottom face extending in a band only along said first and second outer edges, wherein said plurality of sheets are nestled together to form a paint mask package; 
 adhering one of said sheets in the area of each of the opposite corners between the workpieces wherein each said sheet is separate and apart from other said sheets and adhering strips of masking tape in the area between the sheets in the opposite corners; 
 each said sheet includes a non-adhesive area on said bottom face wherein said non-adhesive area extends continuously from said adhesive to and continuously along said inner edge; and, 
 said adhering of each of said sheet consists of single-handedly grasping of said non-adhesive area of said sheet, single-handedly removing each said sheet from said package, and single-handedly installing each said sheet to each corner of the window pane.